Disocery's OMS-Pods and FRCS returned to KSC

October 5, 2011

Space Shuttle Discovery’s final Auxiliary Power Unit – APU #3 was disconnected on September 27 while work on the Orbiter’s waste system continued throughout the week. Preparations to receive Discovery’s OMS-Pods from White Sands began later in the week. This work resumed after the weekend. On Tuesday, the OMS-Pods and Forward Reaction Control System of the Shuttle were delivered to KSC. At White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico the Pods and the FRCS underwent a deservicing process, all traces of hazardous chemicals were removed to prepare the components for exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum where Discovery will be transferred next year. The left-hand OMS-Pod is planned to be installed late this week or early next week. The final powerdown of Discovery is planned to occur this month shutting down systems of the orbiter for the final time.

Inside Orbiter Processing Facility #2, Space Shuttle Atlantis is contiuing her T&R Process. The orbiter was undergoing preparations for OMS-Pod removal for large portions of last week. On September 28, operations to drain the water system of the orbiter started. Work on Atlantis’ APUs also picked up again on Thursday and continued on Friday to get the Shuttle prepared for APU fuel tank removal early this week. On Monday (Oct. 3) a fuel tank was removed and today, teams are removing the fuel isolation valves and the catch bottle drain systems.

Space Shuttle Endeavour remains inside the VAB and awaits her move to the OPF later this month:

Shuttle Payload Canisters prepare for Disposal

September 28, 2011

T&R Update September 27

September 27, 2011

On Space Shuttle Discovery, APU component removal continued through Wednesday, September 21. Technicians also began midbody close out operations on the orbiter. On Thursday, preparations started to remove the first Auxiliary Power Unit from Discovery. Those preparations included hydraulic pump removals which were completed on Thursday. On Friday, APU-1 was removed and preparations picked up to remove Auxiliary Power Unit 2 on Monday September 26. The APUs provided hydraulic power to the Spacecraft and its systems. Hydraulic pressure was required to move the Shuttle’s aerosurfaces, main engines, the speed break and APUs were the prime system for landing gear deployment. APUs were powered with toxic Hydrazine. Removing all traces of the substance is a requirement for safe retirement and future exhibition.

Inside the other Oribter Processing Facility, workers have started preparations for OMS-Pod removal on Atlantis on Tuesday, Sept. 20. A large part of the week was also spent on insulation removals on the APU system. The waste system of the orbiter was flushed, cleaned and dried through September 22. OMS Pod preparations continued through the entire week and resumed on September 26.

Space Shuttle Endeavour remains inside the VAB for storage until switching places with Atlantis in October. On September 22, a test was performed on the Orbiter. An Approach and Landing Test Assembly (ALTA) pod which is a replica of the Shuttle’s OMS-Pods, was installed on Endeavour. This ALTA Attachment was performed to demonstrate that KSC equipment will fit into the Hangar at the National Air and Space Museum when an ALTA Pod will be installed on Shuttle Enterprise. For transport on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, an ALTA Pod has to be attached to the Orbiter that is being transported. The test operations also evaluated timelines and procedures that are associated with the ALTA installation. Enterprise will be moved from the Smithsonian to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York.

T&R Update September 19

September 19, 2011

On Monday, September 12, work on Discovery continued with Yaw Actuator removal on Engines #1 and #3. The team also resumed deservicing of Discovery’s Liquid Cooling Garment Loop #2 which continued through the entire week. Actuator removals on the remaining Engine picked up on Tuesday. Both, Yaw- and Pitch Actuators, were removed. After work on all actuators was completed, teams started to remove the Shuttle's fuel and drain line flexhoses. APU component removals began on Thursday. This task was resumed today and will continue through Wednesday. Cooling Garment Work should be completed tomorrow.

Orbiter Docking System Removal Operations on Space Shuttle Atlantis started earlier in September and continued last Monday and Tuesday before the ODS was removed on Wednesday. On Thursday, Tires were installed on Atlantis' Nose and Main Landing Gears in preparation for her next move that is planned to occur in mid-October. Work on Atlantis’s Auxiliary Power Units also began that day. Teams will remove APU insulation through a large portion of this week. The Waste System of the Orbiter is being flushed, cleaned and dried to begin this week.

Endeavour remains inside the Vehicle Assembly Building for storage. She will switch places with Atlantis and move to Orbiter Processing Facility 2 in October.

T&R Update September 9

September 9, 2011

Since the last Update, work on both Orbiters inside the Orbiter Processing Facilities continued as planned.

Ending her wekk, Discovery underwent Drag Chute Door installation. In addition to that, preparations for deservicing operations on water loop #2 were made. Loop deservicing picked up on Tuesday after the Labor-Day Weekend and was nearly completed that day on both loops. On Wednesday, pyrotechnics from the Orbiter’s side door were removed. Cooling Garment Loop deservicing activities also resumed and continued through Thursday and Friday. Main Engine actuator removal were the focus for the rest of the week. On Thursday, SSME #3 Pitch Actuator was removed. Main Engine #1 and #2 Yaw Actuators were removed today.

On Shuttle Atlantis, work continued on Friday to deservice liquid cooling garment loop #2. WLES (Wing Leading Edge Sensor System) Impact Sensors were removed on Friday as well. After the 3-day weekend, coolant garment loop deservicing resumed. On Wednesday, the Orbiter’s SCU (Service&Cooling Umbilical) inside the crew module was removed. The SCU has been important for Spacewalks. It was used to recharge batteries, oxygen supply and cooling water on the Spacesuits (EMUs) that were worn during spacewalks. SCU were also essential in EMU Servicing and Maintenance on Orbit. On Thursday, pyrotechnics were removed from the Orbiter Docking System of Atlantis. Those were not used during her final flight. ODS Pyros are contingency equipment that could free the Shuttle from the ISS when the ODS is not working properly. ODS removal is planned for Monday. Preparations for that were made today.

Endeavour sits inside the VAB waiting for another Shuttle Shuffle to move to OPF-2 in October. Planning schedules show October 17 as the preplanned date for that. However, changes are always possible as T&R work on Atlantis may require additional time before she can go into the VAB which is currently used as a giant storage closed for Orbiters. Endeavour had some visitors earlier this week when participants of the GRAIL NASA-Tweetup got a chance to see the naked Orbiter without SSMEs, FRCS and OMS-Pods.

T&R Update September 1

September 1, 2011

To begin her week, Atlantis underwent power-up-testing and KU-Band Antenna Deployment. Work on the Orbital Maneuvering System and Reaction Control System also resumed on Monday. Venting of the systems was completed later in the week. Aft RCS venting operations concluded on Tuesday. On August 31, Engineers removed batteries from the Wing Leading Edge Sensor System that provided power to the WLES while Atlantis was in space. On Thursday, deservicing of cooling garment loops #1 and #2 picked up. Pyrotechnic elements that are part of the OBSS (Orbiter Boom Sensor System) are also scheduled to be removed today.

Operations on Shuttle Discovery resumed with APU Tank Removal. Post Freon Loop Deservicing Activities also began on Monday. Both of those procedures continued through Tuesday. Auxiliary Power Unit component removal started on Wednesday and will continue into next week.

At Launch Pad 39A, Technicians are performing draining operations on the Liquid Hydrogen Sphere. This operations requires several waves of tankers and is in progress through this week.

T&R Update August 27

August 27, 2011

After the final main engine was removed earlier in the week, technicians focused on other items on Space Shuttle Atlantis. On Wednesday, the Orbiters pyrotechnics that were used to deploy the drag chute and other pyrotechnic elements in the aft section were removed. The Orbital Maneuvering System will also be the focus of attention over the next week. Preparations to vent the OMS System started on Thursday and continued through Friday. Technicians will vent the system next week.

Inside Orbiter Processing Facility 1, Discovery is continuing her T&R Process. Early last week, clean up activities of the orbiter’s Auxiliary Power Unit Fuel System were performed. Deservicing of Freon Coolant Loop #1 has also begun. The next step for Discovery is the removal of the APUs. For that, preparations were started on Thursday. APU Fuel Tank lines were disconnected on Friday. Fuel Tank Removal is planned for Monday to start the new week.

Final Space Shuttle Main Engine removed

August 22, 2011

Technicians at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida have removed the final Space Shuttle Main Engine today. Engine #1 of Space Shuttle Atlantis that flew on Mission STS-135 was removed and transported to the Engine Shop. There, the 7,800-pound engine will be refurbished for possible future use. Engines #2 and #3 were removed on Thursday and Friday. Atlantis is being prepared for retirement inside Orbiter Processing Facility 2. Today marked the last time a real Engine was installed on one of the Orbiters. For display purposes, all three Orbiters will be equipped with Replica Schuttle Main Engines (RSMEs) before being shipped to their retirement homes.

Inside OPF-1, Discovery started her week with more work on the Auxiliary Power Units. APU clean ups will continue throughout this week. In addition to that, technicians have deserviced a freon coolant loop of the Orbiter today.

Atlantis' Engines removed, Discovery resumes T&R

August 19, 2011

Space Shuttle Atlantis is beginning her lengthy T&R process. Earlier this week, preparations were made to remove the Orbiter’s Main Engines. Main Engine #2 was first to be removed on Thursday, August 18, 2011. Engine #3 was removed on Aug 19. Teams at the Kennedy Space Center expect to remove the final Space Shuttle Main Engine on Monday.

Photo: NASA Kennedy

SSME #2 on a Transporter

Space Shuttle Discovery has resumed her T&R processing inside OPF-1 after being relocated earlier this month. The Shuttle was powered up and Discovery’s Payload Bay Doors were opened on August 15. The KU-Band Antenna was also deployed. Deservicing of the APUs and Freon Cooling Loops has been underway throughout the week.

Discovery and Endeavour switch Places

August 11, 2011

A rare picture occurred at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida today: To Space Shuttles were standing ‘nose to nose’ as Endeavour and Discovery swapped places. Endeavour
moved from Orbiter Processing Facility to the VAB to make room for
Discovery which was standing inside the VAB for the last few weeks as
there are only two OPFs for three Orbiters. For Transition and Retirement, only two of usually three OPFs (Orbiter Processing Facilities) are available to the team. Discovery was moved to OPF-2 after her last landing on March 9, 2011 for normal post mission processing and initial T&R Processing. Endeavour moved to OPF-1 after coming back from her final mission STS-134 in June – Atlantis was already undergoing final mission preparation and rolled to the launch pad the night Endeavour landed. To make room for Atlantis, Discovery was moved to the VAB’s High Bay 4 prior to the homecoming of STS-135, the final Shuttle mission. Atlantis has been towed inside OPF-2 for down mission processing and initial retirement operations.

Disovery is planned to be the first Shuttle to be ready for the ferry flight to her final retirement home, the National Air and Space Museum. After the completion of Endeavour’s post mission processing, NASA was forced to shuffle their Orbiters, so that Discovery could move to an OPF for complete T&R. OPF-3 was taken out of Shuttle Operations prior to the Launch of STS-133. It is currently being prepared for a customer outside of NASA.

Endeavour backed out of the OPF early on Thursday morning. Without Main Engines, OMS-Pods and Forward Reaction Control System Assembly, the Shuttle was stopped on the tow way to wait for Discovery. OV-103 was then moved from the VAB to make a brief stop next to Endeavour for a rare Photo Opportunity of two Shuttles in a stripped down condition without the features that have been characterizing the Orbiters for the remainder of their active lives. The Orbiters then moved on to their targeted locations. Discovery was slowly rolled into the OPF and Endeavour took her temoprary place inside the VAB. Meanwhile, NASA revised the plans for T&R processing. New timelines show the final Shuttle (Atlantis) to be ready for display in early 2013. The other two Orbiters should have finished T&R operations in 2012.